SINGAPORE and Japan have agreed to allow for more flights between the two countries.

A new air deal just sealed following government-to-government talks held on Wednesday and Thursday, will almost double the number of flights that Singapore carriers can operate to the capital city of Tokyo from 2010.

With immediate effect, all other restrictions will also be lifted to allow Singapore and Japanese carriers to operate an unlimited number of passenger and cargo flights between Singapore and all other cities in Japan.

In a statement on Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (Caas) said that under the deal, Singapore carriers will be able to operate up to four daily flights between Singapore and Tokyo's Haneda Airport from 10pm to 7am, after the completion of a new runway at the airport in October 2010.

In addition, Singapore carriers may also increase the number of flights between Singapore and Tokyo's Narita Airport when the runway expansion at the airport is ready in March 2010.

The expansion also allows Singapore carriers to operate passenger flights beyond Osaka and Nagoya to the United States, while Japanese carriers will be able to fly beyond Singapore to points in India and the Middle East.

CAAS director-general and chief executive officer Lim Kim Choon said: 'This significant expansion of the air services agreement is a testament to the warm relations between Singapore and Japan, and a strong reflection of our mutual commitment to provide a liberal framework that will facilitate greater trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.'

Eight airlines now operate 288 weekly scheduled flights between Singapore and nine cities in Japan.

Changi Airport is currently served by 81 airlines operating over 4,400 weekly scheduled flights to 191 cities in 61 countries.